Folding crate or box.



D. GrUIGE, H. P. DOHRMEIEB. & 0. A. LANE.

FOLDING CRATE OE BOX. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. s, 1913. RENEWED JAN. 9, 1915.

1,129,088. Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

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D. GUIUE, H. P. DUHRMEIER & O. A. LANE.

FOLDING CRATE OR BOX.

APPLIOATION FILED $EPT. 3, 1913. RENEWED JAN. 9, 1915.

11,129,088, Patented Feb.23,1915.

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D. GUICE, H. P. DOHRMEIER & O. A. LANE.

FOLDING CRATE OR BOX. v YAPPLIGATI'ON FILED $EP'1.3, 191s. RENEWED JAN. 9, 1915.

1,129,088., Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

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DUKE GUICE, HERMAN PERRY DOI-IRMEIER, AND OSCAR ALEXANDER LANE, OF

GREENVILLE, ALABAMA.

FOLDING CRATE OR BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

Application filed September 3, 1913, Serial No. 787,880. Renewed January 9, 1915. Serial No. 1,453.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, DUKE Goren, HER- MAN P. DOHRMEIER, and OSCAR A. LANE, citizens of the United States, residing at Greenville, in the county of Butler and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Crates or Boxes, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in foldable or collapsible crates or boxes.

An important object of this invention is to provide a crate or box of the above mentioned character, which is so constructed that proper ventilation is afforded to the goods stored therein, at all times, irrespective of the position that the crate or box may occupy, that is, whether it is stood on either end or laid upon either side.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crate of the above mentioned character, which is so constructed that the same may be shipped from the factory or place of manufacture in a partly assembled condition with the parts thereof lying fiat, to occupy the minimum amount of space for shipment, such partly assembled condition aiding the user in readily completely assembling the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for tying or binding together the several parts of the crate or box.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crate or box of the above mentioned character, which is light, strong, durable, cheap to manufacture, and convenient in use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure l is a side elevation of a crate or box embodying the invention, Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the top piece or cover, Fig. 5 is a similar view of the connected end and side pieces, the same being collapsed or folded, and, Fig. 6 is a similar view of a bottom piece."

In the drawings, wherein is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention, the

numeral 7 designates oppositely arranged side pieces, which are identical, each comprising longitudinally extending horizontal rods or bars 8, having vertical spaced veneers or strips 9, disposed upon the inner sides thereof and attached thereto by means of nails 10 or the like. Attention is called to the fact that the rods or bars 8 extend outwardly beyond the veneers or strips 9 and are provided near their free ends with openings or apertures 11, as shown in Fig. 8.

The numeral 12 designates end pieces, comprising upper and lower horizontal transverse rods or bars 13, upon the inner sides of which are mounted vertical spaced veneers or strips 14, attached thereto by means of nails 15 or the like. The lower rod or bar 13 is disposed adjacent to or flush with the lower ends of the veneers or strips 14:, while the upper rod or bar 13 is disposed near and spaced from the upper ends of the veneers or strips 14. As clearly shown, the end rods or bars 18, are disposed adjacent and between the side rods or bars 8, the end rods or bars 13 being provided with openings or apertures 16, adapted for registration with the apertures 11 of the side rods or bars 8.

The numeral 17 designates three separate vertical binding wires, provided at their lower ends with stop-heads 18. These wires are threaded or passed through the openings 11 and 16 of the side and end rods or bars 8 and 13, before the same are shipped from the factory, whereby the side and end pieces are pivotally connected at three points, forming in effect a flexible construction adapted to be collapsed, to occupy a flat position, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. When the end and side pieces are thus collapsed, the strips or veneers attached to the rods or bars are arranged outermost. When assembling the crate or box, the side and end pieces are swung around so that the rods or bars are arranged upon the outer side of the strips or veneers. When the crate or box is assembled there is a fourth vertical binding wire 18', which is identical with the outer binding wires 17, but which is not threaded or passed through the openings 11 and 16, of

the rods or bars, until the end and side pieces are brought to their assembled or operative position, as shown.

As more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the numeral 19 designates a bottom piece, formed of longitudinally extending transversely spaced veneers or strips 20, mounted upon transverse supporting'rods or bars 21, arranged adjacent the ends thereof and attached thereto by any suitable means. In the assembled condition of the crate or box, the bottom 19 is arranged within the lower portion of the same, with the opposite ends of the transverse supporting rods or bars 21 resting upon the longitudinal side rods or bars 8, as more clearly shown in Fig. 1.

As more clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the numeral 22 designates a top piece or lid, comprising transverse spaced veneers or strips 23, upon the outer sides of which are arranged longitudinally extending rods or bars 21, spaced from the ends of the strips or veneers and attached thereto by any suitable means. At their opposite ends, the longitudinal rods or bars 24; extend beyond the transverse strips or veneers 28 and are provided adjacent such opposite ends with inwardly spaced recesses or notches 25, as shown. When the box is assembled, the top piece or lid 22 is arranged upon the end and side pieces, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3, the transverse veneers or strips 23 engaging the side longitudinal rods or bars 8, the rods or bars 24 extending longitudinally of the crate or box inwardly of and spaced from the longitudinal rods or bars 8, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The upper ends of the binding wires 17 and 18 are first bent inwardly to pass within the vertical recesses or notches 25 and then outwardly and downwardly, forming loops 26, the downwardly extending portions 27 of the binding wires passing exteriorly of the transverse end rods or bars 13, and being connected with the binding wires by being twisted about the same, as shown at 28. In this manner the side, end and top pieces are securely bound together rendering it impossible for them to accidentally or improperly separate, but allowing for the same being readily separated when desired.

Any holding means maybe arranged within the crate or box depending upon the articles to be shipped. The crate or box is well adapted for holding fruit or vegetable boxes or baskets. There may be a horizontal partition between the layers of boxes or baskets, if desired.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described our claim 1. A box or crate of the character described, comprising side and end pieces embodying longitudinally extending bars projecting at their opposite ends beyond the same for a substantial distance and apertured, the apertured ends of the bars in one set being adapted to cross the apertured ends of the bars in the other set, binding wires, at least one of which is removable, passed through the overlapping apertured ends of the bars at the corners of the box or crate and provided at their lower ends with means to prevent the upward movement of the same with relation to such apertured overlapping ends, such binding wires serving to pivotally connect the apertured overlapping ends and extending at their upper ends a substantial distance above and beyond the upper apertured overlapping ends, a bottom piece to close the lower end of the box or crate, and a top adapted to be arranged upon and engage with the side and end pieces and embodying spaced bars extending at opposite ends beyond the same for a substantial distance, the upper free ends of the binding wires being adapted to be bent about the ends of the top bars and then downwardly for a substantial distance and wound about the body portion of the binding wires.

2. A box or crate of the character described, comprising, in combination, side and end pieces embodying upper and lower longitudinally extending bars projecting at their opposite ends beyond the same for a substantial distance and apertured near such opposite ends, the apertured ends of the bars in one set being adapted to cross the apertured ends of the bars in the other set, binding wires, at least one of which is removable, passed through the overlapping apertured ends of the bars at the corners of the box or crate and provided with means to prevent their upward movement with relation invention, we

to such apertured overlapping ends, suchbinding wires serving to pivotally connect the apertured overlapping ends and extending at their upper ends for a substantial distance above and beyond the upper apertured overlapping ends, a bottom piece to close the lower end of the box or crate, and a top adapted to be arranged upon and engage with the side and end pieces and embodying longitudinally extending exteriorly arranged bars disposed inwardly of and spaced a substantial distance from the ends of the bars of the end pieces and projecting at their opposite ends beyond the top for a substantial distance and provided at such ends upon their inner longitudinal sides with vertical In testimony whereof we aflix our signa- 10 grooves, the upper free ends of the blndlng tures in presence of two witnesses.

wires bein adapted to be passed first beneath the iorotruding ends of the top bars DOHRMFIER and upwardly through the vertical grooves OSCAR A L ANE J and bent downwardly around such protruding ends and then carried downwardly for Witnesses:

a substantial distance and wound about the LENA SAMMoND, body portion of the binding wires. L. M. LANE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

